Extortion: Police Read Riot Act To Officers

Worried over the increasing presence of officers who extort motorists across the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 16 (comprising Bayelsa and Rivers State Police Commands), Ben Okolo, has warned police officers attached to the various checkpoints on roads across the nation to stop or face the law.
The Tide Metro investigations reveal that the situation has worsened in recent times, as commercial drivers now battle fuel price hike alongside police officers who extort money from them.
The situation is high along Ikwerre Road, where four police checkpoints abound along the road up to Rumuokoro.
But the visiting Police AIG said officers who refuse to turnover a new leaf would be made to face the wrath of the law in accordance with police rules and disciplinary measures.
Speaking while addressing officers and men of the state police command during a meeting held at the Officers Mess in Port Harcourt as part of his three-day official visit to the Rivers State Police Command, he explained that the road checkpoints were built to help the police combat crimes and not to be used as an avenue to extort money from members of the public.
Okolo urged officers to uphold justice, fairness, human dignity and human rights and work in accordance with the police rules of engagement.
While responding to the address of the State Commissioner of Police, Okolo said the acting Inspector General of Police was not unaware of the various challenges facing the command.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Emeka Polycarp Nwonyi thanked the AIG for the visit, saying his visit will help to boost the morale of officers in their quest to prevent and fight crimes.
He listed some of the challenges facing the command to include inadequate arms and ammunition, housing and patrol vehicles.
The Zone 16 police boss urged the state Police command to maintain and keep synergy with sister agencies in terms of intelligence sharing and other critical areas.